Harman Kardon AVR8500 Owner'S Manual Download Page 27

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SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

System Configuration

IMPORTANT NOTE:

The output level can be

adjusted for each digital and analog surround
mode individually. This allows you to compen-
sate for level differences between speakers, that
may also vary with the surround mode selected,
or to increase or decrease the level of certain
speakers intentionally, depending on the sur-
round mode selected. Note that adjustments
made for any surround mode are effective with
all inputs associated with the same surround
mode.

Before beginning the output level adjustment
process, make certain that all speaker connec-
tions have been properly made. The system
volume should be turned down at first. While the
AVR 8500 allows you to set output levels manu-
ally, we recommend that EzSet system be used
when the AVR is first installed to establish the
initial level settings.

Using EzSet

Harman Kardon’s exclusive EzSet remote makes
it possible to quickly and accurately set the
AVR’s output levels without the use of a sound
pressure meter, although manual adjustment is
also available. However, for the easiest set-up,
follow these steps while seated in the listening
position that will be used most often:

1. Make certain that all speaker positions have

been properly configured for their “large” or
“small” settings (as outlined above).

2. Turn off the OSD system if it is in use.

3. Select any input associated with the surround

mode for which you want to adjust the output
levels. Remember that the same adjustments
must be made with all other surround modes
you´ve in use.

4. The AVR 8500 features a specific Test Tone

generator for the Subwoofer, that should be
switched off for a proper level alignment by
the EzSet system. Press the

OSD

Button

to open the

MASTER MENU

, select the

CHANNEL ADJUST

line and press

Set

button

to open that menu. Make sure

that

OFF

is highlighted in the

SUB TEST

TONE

line; if not, select that line and press

‹

›

Buttons

once to turn the Tone

off. Then return to the

MASTER MENU

5. Hold the remote in front of you, being sure

not to cover the

EzSet Sensor Microphone

at the top of the remote and aim it at the

AVR, don´t hold it vertically (like a micro-
phone).

6. Press and hold the

SPL Indicator Select

Button

for three seconds. Release it

when the

Program/SPL Indicator

stops flashing and remains lit. Press the

Button

on the remote if your system is

configured for 5.1 operation with standard
speakers or when it is configured for 7.1 oper-
ation but the surround back speakers are not
in use with the surround mode currently
selected. Press the

7 Button

on the

remote only if your system is configured for
6.1/7.1 operation with a full speaker comple-
ment including rear surround speakers and
the surround back speakers are in use with
the surround mode selected. Note that all
speakers currently in use always are indicated
by the

Speaker/Channel Indicators

the front panel display. Once the correct chan-
nel configuration button has been pressed the
test noise will be heard from the front left
speaker.

7. At this point, EzSet will take over, adjusting

the output level of each channel so that when
the process is complete all levels will be equal
and at the set reference point. This process
may take a few minutes, depending on the
extent of adjustment required.

8. During the adjustment, you will see the loca-

tion of the channel position being adjusted
appear in the on-screen display (if connected)
and in the

Main Information Display

alternating with a readout of the output set-
ting, relative to the reference volume level. As
the adjustment proceeds, a few things will
happen simultaneously:

• The channel position being adjusted will flash

in the

Speaker/Channel Input Indicators

. If the test noise is heard from a channel

other than the one shown in the Indicator, the
on-screen display or the front panel display,
there is an error in the speaker connections. If
this is the case, press the

Test Button

TWICE to stop the adjustment. Then, turn the
unit off and verify that all speakers are con-
nected to the proper

Outputs

and

that any connections made to rear surround
speakers powered by optional amplifiers
through the

Surround Back Preamp

Outputs

are correct. Afterwards start the

adjusting process again from the beginning.

• As the individual channels are set, the channel

name and the adjustment offset will appear in
the on-screen display (if connected) and the

Main Information Display

. While the

level is changing, the

Program/SPL

Indicator

will change colors to reflect

the output level in relation to the reference. A
red indication shows that the level is too high,
while an orange indication shows that the

level is too low. When the indicator is green,
the level is correct, and the test noise will
move to the next channel.

• While adjustments are being made, the red

LED under the

AVR Selector

will flash.

This is normal, and indicates that EzSet is
operating.

9. After the test noise has circulated once

through each channel, it will send the tone
to each channel once again, to verify the set-
tings.

10. After two complete circulations of the tone,

the levels are set. The

Program/SPL

Indicator

will remain green at each

channel. Upon completion of the second cir-
culation, the

Program/SPL Indicator

will flash green twice and then go out. The
tone will stop and the AVR will return to nor-
mal operation.

Manual Output Level Adjustment

Output levels may also be adjusted manually,
either to set them to a specific level with an SPL
meter, or to make fine tuning adjustments to the
levels obtained using the EzSet remote.

Manual output level adjustment is most easily
done through the

CHANNEL ADJUST

menu (Figure 8). If you are already at the main
menu, press the

Button

until the on-

screen

›

cursor is next to the

CHANNEL

ADJUST

line. If you are not at the main

menu, press the